Feeling like I’m watching a legend in the making

[Box Score]

[AJC] [Capitol Avenue Club] [Talking Chop]

I have a pretty terrible cold right now. It’s one of those things that just hangs on. No matter how much Vitamin C I pound, no matter how much sleep I get, it’s going to be like four days of misery. Once you get that through your head, a Hell-cold is not so bad.

And if there’s one positive, it also gives me a free pass to lay on the couch and watch baseball for about 6 to 8 hours uninterrupted. So yesterday when I got home, I decided I was going to watch the Braves and Marlins. Hanley Ramirez was returning from injury, it was the first time since the Marlins opener that Hanley and Mike Stanton were both in the starting lineup, and Tommy Hanson was on the bump in Atlanta. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Most of all, I’ve caught a few of Jason Heyward’s at-bats this year; and I was craving more. He’s turning on balls and at least for the time being the concerns about his wrist should be put on the backburner. He’s off to another really great start. This is the best he’s looked since about April of last year. And it could be said that he’s going to be like Ken Griffey Jr. in the fact that he’s definitely a fast-starter. I love a fast starter. There’s nothing better.

If only he was hitting in a better spot in the lineup. Rob Neyer weighs in on it yesterday:

Of course, you know as well as David Schoenfield that it really makes little difference where McLouth and Heyward bat. Granted, McLouth’s will cost the Braves a few runs over the course of the season if he stays in the No. 2 slot all season. Which he won’t. And Heyward might account for two or three more runs if he were batting third or fourth rather than sixth. But the odds against the Braves missing a playoff spot because of Fredi Gonzalez’s batting orders — as opposed to the players he actually uses — are exceptionally long.

Pretty much the way I feel. I just want to see what the guy can do getting an extra at-bat a game and producing in the middle of the lineup. But I guess I should get off my Heyward soap-box now. Officer Mclouth will eventually be pulled out of the 2-spot in favor of young J-Hey and all will be right with baseball in Hotlanta; especially if Tommy Hanson throws anywhere close to what he had last night the rest of the season.

Chipper Jones had a nice game, driving in two runner and is now one RBI shy of the 1,500 mark. Wow, what a career it’s been. The swing still looks beautiful.

Other observations from this game:

-Gabby Sanchez has absolutely nothing. I don’t think he’s going to be much of a player.
-I’m still waiting on Hanley Ramirez to get going.
-Mike Stanton has unreal power. I can’t believe he’s only 21. The guy just has it. How did he last until the 2nd round in the draft?
-Heyward’s rocket home run to dead center was impressive. There just aren’t many guys who hit line drives to that area in Atlanta. In that respect, he reminds me of Griffey a little bit.
-Chris Volstad throws a ton of hittable fastballs. I’ve seen a ton of great arms this year early on where the pitcher was ahead of the hitter in terms of coming out of spring training. Volstad didn’t give that feeling. Brian McCann also touched him up for a nice yard ball into the Braves pen.